The young and gifted

Jessica Yap

Justin Whyte, Entertainment Editor

JAMAICANS ARE being exposed to advancements in science and technology, as well as information systems. But the education of our gifted young people needs revaluation in order to invest in the development of our nation.

In listening to seven-year-old Jessica Yap play the first movement of Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto In A minor, it becomes clear that she is one of Jamaica's gifted young people.

Dr. Dennis Edwards, head of Mico Care Centre (Child Assessment and Research), agreed there are several gifted children in the island, who are not involved in the arts.

He said some of the hallmarks of a gifted child are originality and fluency of thought, uniformity of action and creativity.

"Those who are gifted also progress in the sporting arena - physical activities. And they have to be nurtured and assessed by using different 'testing instruments' to confirm their giftedness", he continued.

Children who are diagnosed as gifted should have an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) rating of between 130 and 140.

And, in spite of their intellectual superiority and enormous potential, many of these brilliant individuals often become educationally retarded through the processes of academic mediocrity and social maladjustment.

Jessica's parents, Joseph and Lisa Yap, although conscious of the fact that their seven-year-old is gifted, continues to send her to Queen's Preparatory School, which is not a special institution

Jessica's teacher, Ann-Marie Anderson-Roulston, can see the characteristics of a gifted child in her student.

Independent

"Jessica is independent, works on her own and performs above her grade average. She is a very loving child and shows great leadership qualities," the teacher said.

The youngster's musical talents were spotted by her mother and at three-and-a-half years she began learning the violin. To broaden her musical scope, she started piano lessons at age

five. And she has mastered both.

"I think she has a flair for the violin. Her music teacher, Lisa Holness, said there are certain things about the violin which Jessica has no problem in committing to memory," Mrs. Yap told Showbiz.

"She does well at her academic subjects. She is a straight A student," Mrs. Yap said.

Does she relate well with her peers? "Yes, very well", Mrs. Yap responded.

This only child is not spoilt by her parents: "She does normal home chores that her age group would be involved in", her mom told Showbiz. And she enjoys leisure time activities that any seven-year-old would.

"She also likes to read and she likes sweets," Mrs. Yap said, laughing.

"I like Kentucky Fried Chicken and I like to swim," Jessica chimed in. "I also love to hug daddy," she boasted.

After playing the violin for a year and a half, she gained a distinction in Piano Grade 2 examinations set by Associated Board, Royal School of Music. This is an exceptional achievement.

She now plays the violin at an intermediate level - between Grades 5 and 6 - yet she is too young to sit the Associated Board's examination for that level.

Under Miss Holness' tuition Jessica won two first prizes in last year's biennial music festival organised by The Music Teachers' Association of Jamaica. She also won the award for The Most Outstanding Junior Performer.

According to Miss Holness: "She has a good ear for music. She has almost perfect pitch. Whenever she gets a piece to learn, she internalises it and just works at it."

Every summer Jessica travels to Toronto, Canada, to learn at the feet of Hetrach Manoukian, Russian violin tutor, at the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. And last year she competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival held in Toronto where she received high commendation.

This year, Jessica will attend summer violin classes in the United States, and is now preparing her repertoire to take with her.

Today at 4 p.m., Jessica will join a line-up of international and local stars at a concert organised by the Andrews Seventh Day Adventist Church, at the University Chapel, Mona Campus.

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